Sevens Program Overview

Children in our Sevens program are divided into Homegroups. Sevens will enter Second Grade in the fall. The camp day for Sevens is 9:00am-4:00pm Monday through Friday. Registration is by two-week sessions. The camp program for children in the Sevens includes organized activities and outdoor play in their Homegroups, Choice Classes which they select according to their interests, and weekly field trips.

Sevens Program Description

Homegroup Time

Homegroup room doors open at 8:50am. Activities are set up throughout the room in order to engage children in the beginning of the camp day. Parents and caregivers are welcome to stay in the room until morning meeting begins at about 9:10am.

When registering, parents choose a Homegroup for their child. A Homegroup is a consistent place, team of teachers, and group of children that meet over the course of camp. For example, we may have as many as four Homegroups of Sevens (“Sevens A,” “Sevens B,” “Sevens C,”…etc.).

Since children in Little Red Summer Camp come from many different schools, morning meeting is an important time for campers to get to know each other and to establish a safe sense of community in the Homegroup. The meeting may include a song or game, time to discuss what will be happening during the day, and time for campers to share their thoughts and ideas.

Activities on the schedule such as Arts and Crafts or Outdoor Play take place with the Homegroup. We use the Downing Street Park, our rubberized rooftop play area, and Houston Ballfield for outdoor activities. Groups may occasionally use the sprinklers, so we ask that campers keep a change of clothes and a swimming suit at camp. Note that the actual days for particular home group activities may vary from Homegroup to Homegroup.

Lunch for Sevens is provided Monday-Thursday, and served in our cafeteria. All ages have a snack of pretzels, cheese, fruit, water, and juice throughout the day. Campers bring a packed lunch for field trips on Fridays.

Quiet Play following lunch is simply an opportunity for children to quiet their senses without the demands of a structured activity. Some children may rest, while others may look at books, draw, or play quietly. Homegroups may also have

The camp day is closed by Afternoon Meeting, during which campers have a chance to reflect on the day and talk about what to expect for the next day.

Choice Classes

During Choice Class time (indicated as “Choice A,” “Choice B,” and “Choice C”) Sevens participate in specialized activities, which are chosen as part of registration in advance of the camp season. For most Choice Classes all Sevens, regardless of Homegroup placement, combine for these classes. Choice Classes meet consistently on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday for an hour each day for the course of a two-week session. The classes are taught by Specialists, Head, and Associate Counselors.
Different classes are offered each session.

The following is a 2016 sample of classes offered to Sevens:
Gymnastics, Deep Sea Creature Feature, Imagination Dance, Kickball Club, Books and Baking, Eye Spy New York Mystery, Karate,
Jewelry Making, Stuffed Creatures, How Things Work and Mask making!Please note: 2017 Choice Classes will be added before General Registration opens on Monday, March 13th.

Camp-Wide Wednesday Activities

Campers in all Sixes and Sevens Homegroups gather together on Wednesday morning for a community activity such as a song or game, and then participate in mixed-age activities of their choice. These may range from making a mural to playing tag games, bird watching or creating a disco party. This is a great opportunity for friends of different ages or in different Homegroups to spend time together.

The second Wednesday of each session is a theme day, such as “The Shrinking Machine,” “Little Red Rocket Ship” or “Beach Day.” Camp-wide activities on those days are based on the theme, and each camp group chooses how it will participate in the theme. Wednesday afternoons are set aside for extended Homegroup projects, collaborations between groups, and activities related to the theme day.

Field Trips

All Sevens Homegroups go on field trips on Fridays. Sevens generally join the Sixes in going to locations such as Central Park Zoo and Carousel, Funtime Junction, and New York Botanical Gardens. We travel by air-conditioned, chartered bus. Our goal is to choose trip locations that give us a chance to be in as much “green,” natural space as possible. Our counselor to camper ratio on field trips for Sixes and Sevens is 1 to 4.

About Summers

Our programs are built on the belief that children thrive when they feel safe, are supported by the adults and peers around them, and when they have both the structure and space to follow their interests.